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Hi as you know I've built one or two Toon's well I've run out of one's to build so it's time to build the one's that aren't out there.
I've got plans to build 15+ conversions at least 7 Sherman's, 4 German's and 1-2 Russin Tanks.
I'm going to start with the Sherman M4A1 CDL (Canal Defence Light) type "E" turret (US verison)
History:
CDL tanks were characterized by carrying in the turret a powerful projector light (spotlight) for illuminating the battlefield at night. It was a top secret project and was developed primarily for the protection of British beaches against a possible German invasion (the origin of the name: Canal Defense Light).
When the danger of invasion passed, the design was adapted for use in night operations and was effectively used only at the end of the war, in the Crossing of the Rhine.
Several models were tested as CDL tanks during the conflict: Matildas, Valentines (Valentine is quoted, but there is no concrete evidence of its existence), Churchills, Lees and Grants. The latter were actually used in battle.
As the M4 Sherman was an evolved version of the M3 Lees, nothing more coherent than the allies test the M4 Sherman with this device. The Americans built their Sherman CDL in a big hatch M4A1, with casted CDL turret.
The lighting system of a Sherman CDL consisted in a turret with two light projectors that through prisms and mirrors, reflected strong light beams through vertical slits in the front of tower. This permitted illuminate the battlefield at a time that night vision technology in low visibility was crawling.
Tray to use two light projectors in a new Sherman turret would be a natural evolution in relation to Grant and Lee CDL, whose turrets had only one projector. But the Sherman project was abandoned because with the exchange of the turret, the tank was armed with only a .30 MG in the hull and another .30 in the turret. If the light projector suffered some damage, the tank would be virtually useless. Something that will not occur with the M3 Lees and Grants because they still carried a gun in the front hull.
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I'm using this as the starting point for the build.
Thank you for looking in and I hope you find it interesting.
Pete.
I've got plans to build 15+ conversions at least 7 Sherman's, 4 German's and 1-2 Russin Tanks.
I'm going to start with the Sherman M4A1 CDL (Canal Defence Light) type "E" turret (US verison)
History:
CDL tanks were characterized by carrying in the turret a powerful projector light (spotlight) for illuminating the battlefield at night. It was a top secret project and was developed primarily for the protection of British beaches against a possible German invasion (the origin of the name: Canal Defense Light).
When the danger of invasion passed, the design was adapted for use in night operations and was effectively used only at the end of the war, in the Crossing of the Rhine.
Several models were tested as CDL tanks during the conflict: Matildas, Valentines (Valentine is quoted, but there is no concrete evidence of its existence), Churchills, Lees and Grants. The latter were actually used in battle.
As the M4 Sherman was an evolved version of the M3 Lees, nothing more coherent than the allies test the M4 Sherman with this device. The Americans built their Sherman CDL in a big hatch M4A1, with casted CDL turret.
The lighting system of a Sherman CDL consisted in a turret with two light projectors that through prisms and mirrors, reflected strong light beams through vertical slits in the front of tower. This permitted illuminate the battlefield at a time that night vision technology in low visibility was crawling.
Tray to use two light projectors in a new Sherman turret would be a natural evolution in relation to Grant and Lee CDL, whose turrets had only one projector. But the Sherman project was abandoned because with the exchange of the turret, the tank was armed with only a .30 MG in the hull and another .30 in the turret. If the light projector suffered some damage, the tank would be virtually useless. Something that will not occur with the M3 Lees and Grants because they still carried a gun in the front hull.
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| M4A1 Sherman CDL - E turret | |
|---|---|
| Service history | |
| Production history | |
| Specifications | |
| Type | CDL Medium tank |
| Place of origin .................................................................. | United States |
| In service | 1944 - tests only |
| Used by | United States |
| Designed | 1943 |
| Produced | 1943 |
| Nbr. built | 1 prototype |
| Weight | 30 tonnes |
| Length | 6.05 m |
| Width | 2.62 m |
| Height | 3,12 m |
| Crew | 3 (Commander, driver, co-driver) |
| Armor | 76 mm maximum |
| Main armament | 2 x projectors with 13.000.000 candle power(12.800.000 candela) searchlight. |
| Secondary armament......... | 2 × .30 Browning M1919A4 machine guns (4,750 rounds) |
| Engine | Continental R975-C1 or -C4 9 cyl. radial gasoline engine,350 or 400 hp at 2,400 rpm |
| Transm. | Spicer manual, Synchromesh, 4 forward (plus 1 overdrive) and 1 reverse gear |
| Suspension | Vertical Volute Spring Suspension (VVSS) |
| Op..range | 170 km at 605 L; 80 octane |
| Speed | 40 to 48 km/h |
I'm using this as the starting point for the build.
Thank you for looking in and I hope you find it interesting.
Pete.
